Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-08-11
August 9th. iss7.
IrucA.

Fort SMITH CoURr.-T ON Terrill, ar
rested at this place last spring for in
traduciug aud selling whisky was con-
victed on both counts. lie is proba-
bly, good for eighteen months. - Dep
uty Jack Ellis brought in from Table
quah Tom Carey and John Mackey.
charged with larceny, and Isaac
Bouther, assault with intent TO kill.
.ss Ed. Nichols, the man brought
some time ago from Kansas on suspi-
cion of being Joe Stutzer, was released
after being in custody since the 9th
Of April last. -. Rabbit Bunch was a
witness in a recent trial. -. Deputy
Connolly brought in Mandy Spring
ston, Kate Terrell aud Sarah J. Fallin,
charged with introducing and selling
whisky in the nation. Sarah Jane
plead guilty and was given 40 days and
nights and 500 fine. - Sam Brewer,
the Cherokee Indian who has a SEN
tence Of one year in the penltentiary,
has been taken down to Little Rock
and placed in prison to serve his term.
Before he left he sent his patent legs
home and stated that the state should
earn the money il gets for keeping
him. He also stated he was not going
TO wear out the legs he paid his money
for while the government had him
locked up. "a In the case of Jef Hill
derbrahd, charged with murder, the
jury after brief deliberation returned
verdict of guilty. The facts in the
case as reported by the Fort Smith pa
pers are about as follows: JEFF and
John Hilderbrand were charged with
assault with intent TO kill, and John
Ridgeway, negro, was a witness
against them. The negro lived in the
Cherokee nation near the Kansas line,
and on the 9th day Of May, 1884. was
found dead under q tree about 800
yards from his house with a bullet
hole in his head, everything going to
show that he had been murdered.
Tho evidence shows that Mary Ridge
way, a white woman, was living with
the deceased, without being married,
and had two children by him. She
swore that JEFF Hilderbrand came to
her house on the 9Th of May, 1884, and
represented to her husband Ridge
wayl that he was dodging from the
marshals and wanted him to go TO the
woods aud watch for them shat night
while he slept. That Ridgeway took a
blanket and went of with Hilder-
brand, and was never seen again unit
found dead as above stated. Her son
by another husband corroborated heI
statement, which was strengthened by
the theory advanced by the prosecu.
lion that the defendants motive for
the murder was TO get the the negro
out OF the way ON account OF his bel M
a witness In the assault case. The de-
fense was an alibi, the father and
brother Of the defendant swearing tha
at the time Ridgeway was killed JET
was at home near Webbcr's Falls, ~
miles from the scene OF the murder
their testimony being sustained b,
one or two other witnesses. The de
fendent has been in Jail here awaiting
trial since the 18th of December, 1885,
nearly nineteen months. lie is soI
of Judge Stephen Hilderbrand, q re
( spected citizen Of the Cherokee ma
tion, who resides near Webber's Falls
J His conviction was apparently grea
surprise TO his attorneys, who antici
} pated AN aoquittal, or at the worst
. hung jury. The case was ably con
: Quoted both. by the government an
: the defense, hut Prosecuting Attorne
: sandels and his assistant, Jas. D. Fol
3 rester, presented the case so strongl
= as TO leave the jury in no doubt as I
the prisoners guilt. Boudinot, Nor
. gan and Marcum represented the d
. fense. Motion for new trial will b.
made, and In case that fails appeal wi
be made 10 the president"